Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
February 7, 2009

Bad weather causes devastation in Morocco.
By Sarah Touahri 2009-02-06

Flooding and heavy snowfalls left several regions of Morocco devastated and affected hundreds of families. Government authorities are responding to the disaster. Freak weather conditions continue to cause devastation in Morocco as authorities struggle to address the humanitarian crisis. A number of people have lost their lives, mainly in the countryside and in mountainous regions and areas near rivers and dams.

In all, 14 people have died since January 31st after their houses collapsed under snow and torrential rain. Hundreds of families have been left homeless. A total of 56,000 hectares are under water in the fertile agricultural region of the Gharb. Flooding in Oued Beht submerged around 7,000 hectares of land and 12 villages inhabited by 5,000 people. It also affected 1,900 homes in Sidi Slimane, with 300 adobe houses partly or fully collapsing. Four schools and a community health centre were also hit by the floods.

The government said the country may not be over the worst of the bad weather and the authorities have warned of the threat of further floods, especially along Oued Sebou. "The exceptional rainfall that has occurred over the last 48 hours has led to significant run-off and has caused some dams to exceed their maximum capacities," a statement by Ministry of the Interior said on Wednesday (February 4th).

Facing public accusations of being ill pre-prepared, government officials tried to get on top of the situation, announcing that a committee tasked with dealing with the aftermath of the bad weather was set up. Local authorities said they were doing all they could to help the victims. Over 400 tents and 4,000 blankets have been distributed, and ambulances, water bowsers, boats and dinghies with motor-driven pumps to pump away water and generators were sent in by the Civil Protection Agency. Members of the Auxiliary Forces were deployed to work alongside emergency response teams.

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said during a cabinet meeting in Rabat on Thursday that the authorities set up accommodation centres and installed electricity generators. They have also provided logistical and human support, especially for the purpose of providing medical assistance to the victims. "As part of a plan to ward off any future problems, the public authorities have set up monitoring committees at the central, regional and local levels," Benmoussa said.

The devastation was much worse in rural areas, where homes are unable to withstand the effects of heavy flooding and snowfalls. Mohamed Telmsani, who lives in Taza, an area affected by the bad weather, said the authorities should have taken precautions by evacuating people living in high-risk villages. "A lot of families lost their belongings and everything they had," he added. "The state should look after them." "Every night I’m terrified that I’ll get caught up in the bad weather. We’re anxious for a lasting solution that will allow us to live here permanently and without fear," sixteen-year-old Fatima told Magharebia.

Minister of Housing and Urbanism Ahmed Toufik Hjira said that a monitoring committee is looking at ways of providing new housing for the families affected by the floods.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/02/06/feature-01
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Morocco aims for unemployment rate under 10%.
2009-01-30

The Moroccan government earmarked 26 million dirhams in the 2009 budget – 7.79% more than last year – to keep the unemployment rate under 10% and preserve the stability of the job market, MAP quoted Employment Minister Jamal Aghmani as saying on Wednesday (January 28th). The minister added that his department's objectives for 2009 include improving the job environment and developing social programmes.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2009/01/30/newsbrief-06
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Morocco to host International Nomad Festival.
2009-01-28
Morocco will host the sixth International Nomad Festival in Mhamid El Ghizlane (90km southeast of Zagora), MAP reported on Wednesday (January 28th). This year's edition, set to begin on March 6th, will focus on nomad women. The annual event highlights the cultural and artistic contributions of the nomad community. Participants will include performers and artisans from Algeria, India, France, Spain, Cameroon, Angola, Croatia, and the US, organisers said.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2009/01/28/newsbrief-08
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Workshop raises Moroccan men's awareness of Family Code.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui 2009-02-02

At the Chourouk Association for Social Development offices in Fez, six couples attended a workshop on the Family Code and women's rights. Fez-based Chourouk Association for Social Development (CASD) held a workshop on Saturday (January 24th) to raise men's awareness about the Family Code and women's rights.

Six couples participated in the session."We have found that all the efforts made by civil society in the field of raising awareness of women’s rights were targeting women only, although men must also be concerned with these rights", said president of CASD Lahcen Afkir. "We wanted to deepen our effort through working with couples."

The association offers regular literacy classes and legal awareness for women. Officials from CASD said that the idea of holding a men's awareness workshop originated after some women expressed the need for raising men's understanding of the code so that they better treat their wives. "The aim of the meeting was to raise men’s awareness, in the presence of their own wives, about women’s rights", Afkir said.

An earlier study by CASD concluded that men believe that the Family Code does not concern them. The couples participating in the men's awareness workshop were selected at random, although they all were from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Afkir explained that "the reason is that the targeted class in our work in general is the poor class." Still, Afkir said, disadvantaged persons are not the only ones unaware of women's rights. "For example, there are people from the educated class who are not aware of the developments of the personal status code."

This initiative is part of a general programme for increasing awareness of women’s rights, funded by the Dutch Embassy through a grant of 160,000 Moroccan dirhams. The session was moderated by a couple affiliated with CASD. It is an example of a future wider campaign that CASD officials hope will attract a wider audience. "The aim [of this first session] was to know what should be focused on in the awareness campaign. This is in addition to other issues that concern men, wives and children", said Afkir.

Abdelkader, one of the husbands who participated in the session on Saturday told Magharebia that he benefited from the initiative and that some of his previous assumptions have now changed. "I used to consider the code was for women only," Abdelkader said. "I have changed the way I deal with my wife. Unlike in the past, we now have no problems."

"The literacy lessons and the legal awareness were very useful for me and changed the way I deal with my environment," said Fattouma, Abdelkader’s wife. "I have become more aware of my rights and duties. This was further boosted through the meeting which CASD organized, that made even my husband understand the Family Code." "The success of this initiative," Afkir stated, "made us extend it over two years so that a bigger number of people may benefit from it."
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/articles/2009/02/02/feature-03
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Mobile telephony boom prompts Morocco to change number system.
2009-02-05

To meet the rapid expansion of the country's mobile telephony networks, Morocco will soon require 10 digits for all telephone numbers, the National Agency for Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT) announced on Wednesday (February 4th). Moroccan numbers, which now comprise nine digits, will use 10, as of March 6th. Calling prices will be unchanged, officials said. The ANRT also announced Wednesday that telecom provider Wana won Morocco's third 2G mobile phone network licence, joining Maroc Telecom and Meditel. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2009/02/05/newsbrief-07
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MCC-funded projects in Morocco 'going well,' expert.
Casablanca, Feb 5, 2009 (MAP)

The social and economic projects launched in Morocco with the Millennium Challenge Compact assistance "are going well," CEO of the Partnership Agency for Progress (French acronym, APP) said on Thursday. Besides reducing poverty, the main goals of this American assistance is to improve the revenues of the target populations, enhance productivity and create more jobs, Morad Abid said at a lunch-debate, hosted by the Casablanca-based American Chamber of Commerce (AM-ChAM). Abid, who presented an overview of the APP activities, voiced attachment to the values of transparency, equity and fair competition in business management and the transfer of contracts. The APP was set up by the government to oversee, follow-up and assess management modalities of the $ 697.5 mln compact, signed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Morocco in August 2007.

For her part, Resident director of MCC-Morocco said the assistance granted to the north African country aims to trigger economic growth by fostering sectors with high potentials in concert with the public, private and civil players.

The Millennium Challenge Compact assistance funds five major projects. This involves fruit-tree growing (USD300.9 mln), small-scale fisheries (USD116.17 mln), artisan and Fez medina (USD111.87 mln), financial services (USD 46.20 mln), and enterprise support (USD33.85 mln).

The Compact also includes approximately USD 88.5 mln for monitoring, assessment, program administration and oversight.
The MCC, a U.S. government corporation, designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people that promote economic growth and elimination of poverty. Morocco was announced eligible for the Millennium Challenge Compact assistance in November 2005.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/mcc-funded_projects/view
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Morocco to reduce unemployment to 7% by 2012.
Rabat, Feb. 05, 2009 (MAP)

The Moroccan government is set to bring the unemployment rate under 7% by 2012, Moroccan prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, said on Wednesday. The Premier, who chaired the board of directors of the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competences (ANAPEC), said the 2009 financial year dedicates 10% of job opportunities for the integration of some 1,134 young holders of higher-education diplomas.According to a statement of the prime minister's office, El Fassi said the government has made the creation of new jobs at the heart of its priorities. He also underlined that the government's efforts are directed towards the creation of the largest possible number of job opportunities.

For his part, ANAPEC managing director, Hafid Kamal, highlighted the results of the programs initiated by his institution, such as Idmaj (integration, aimed to provide jobs), which contributed to the integration of 120,076 job seekers in the 2006-2008 period, and Taahil (training), which identified 25,000 indentured training opportunities.

For the 2009-2012 period, ANAPEC aims to help 230,00 job seekers integrate the job market and identify 100,000 training opportunities, he said. For the current year, the Moroccan government is set to maintain the unemployment rate under 10% in 2009 and preserve the stability of the job market, especially in activities exposed to the international crisis.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_to_reduce_un/view
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Morocco's growth rate expected to reach 6.7% in 2009.
Casablanca, Feb. 5, 2009 (MAP)

Morocco's economy is expected to achieve a 6.7% growth rate in 2009 compared to 5.8% in 2008, High Commissioner for Planning, Ahmed Lahlimi Alami, said on Wednesday. The primary sector is expected to grow 22.3% in 2009 compared to 11.1% in 2008 to contribute by 3.2 points to the economic growth in 2009 instead of 1.3 points last year, Lahlimi Alami said at a press conference in Casablanca.

Non-agricultural activities are expected to slowdown 3.9% in 2009 against 5% in 2008, as a result of the global economic recession, which affects the development of the national economy, he said.

Remittances of Moroccans living abroad are expected to continue their downward trend by 5% in 2009, down from 2.4% in 2008, while foreign direct investments (FDIs), which declined by 37% in 2008, would shrink by 20% in 2009. For its part, international tourism receipts are expected to remain stagnant in 2009 after having posted a 3.5% decrease in 2008, the High Commissioner for Planning said.

However, Lahlimi Alami pointed out to a number of internal factors that will contribute to absorb the international crisis on the national economy, notably the performances of the 2008-2009 agricultural campaign and the 23.5% increase of consolidated public investments. He also explained that the inflationist tensions, which marked the local market of goods and services in 2007 and 2008, would abate in 2009, following the fall in the prices of imported raw materials, notably oil.

The banking sector showed resiliency in the face of the international financial crisis as evidenced by the good performances recorded by Moroccan banks in 2008, he said, underscoring the monetary policy set up to ensure a favourable financing environment in 2009, especially after the fall of the minimum reserve requirements from 15% to 12% in 2008.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_s_growth_rat_2/view
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Morocco to benefit from Germany's know-how in water management.
Casablanca, Feb. 4 (MAP)

Morocco and Germany considered, here on Wednesday, means to further boost cooperation in water management and environment. The question was examined by Morocco's Minister of Energy, Mining and Water, Amina Benkhadra, and visiting German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Sigmar Gabriel, during a seminar on "Bilateral Cooperation in the Field of Water".

Gabriel, who is leading a large delegation of 20 businessmen operating in the field, said his visits ushers in new partnership programs between his country and the north African kingdom. Germany, he ensured, is keen to support Morocco in achieving its projects in the field, through proving financial assistance, but also by the transfer of know-how, training and vocational training to promote sustainable development. The official stressed that the growing scarceness of water imposes seeking new irrigation techniques or the desalination of seawater.

For her part, Benkhadra said water is one of the key sectors of Moroccan-German cooperation, stressing that "the (bilateral) partnership is old, solid and of high quality." The minister recalled Morocco's efforts to generalize access to water in the rural world, and to compensate for the shortage in purification in certain big cities.

Morocco's large-scale water management strategy, which translated into the construction of 120 dams with a capacity of 4.5 billion cubic meters, has allowed for reinforcing agricultural development, food security, water supply for cities and hydraulic electricity. A lot needs to be done, though, she admitted. The minister had earlier told reporters that Morocco wants to boost relation with Germany in other fields as renewable energies, to which the north African country attaches "utmost importance."

The German said, for his part, his country has set up two initiatives in the fields of water and environment, which can serve as a platform for transferring technologies and training to Morocco. He also thanked Morocco for helping create the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_to_benefit_f/view
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UNFPA commends cooperation with Morocco.
Rabat, Feb 3, 2009 (MAP)

United Nations Population Fund representative in Morocco (UNFPA), Genviève Ah-Sue, commended, here Tuesday, the cooperation between Morocco and the Fund, calling it "a cornerstone for the dissemination of good practices not only in Morocco but in the whole region as well." This came at a meeting, co-chaired by the UNFPA official and the Secretary General at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Youssef Amrani, to assess the Morocco-UNFPA cooperation program for 2008 and outline an action plan for 2009.

During the meeting, Ah-Sue reiterated the Fund's readiness to support Morocco in the various challenges facing its cooperation program with the UNFPA, while the Moroccan official voiced the kingdom's desire to see its partnership with the UNFPA become "a model of cooperation". Amrani, who expressed the kingdom’s firm resolve to work with the UNFPA to "compensate for deficiencies and draw the necessary lessons from them," said the cooperation between Morocco and the FNUAP has helped improve access to reproductive health services and take into account gender and population issues.

This cooperation has also helped support the various reform projects undertaken by the Kingdom and highlight "the most relevant and timely issues of the country, including those pertaining to poverty, housing, and migration," he said. Morocco and the UNFPA inked in 2007 a “Country Program Action Plan” (CPAP) meant to meet the UN guidelines on aid to development, as defined at the Millennium Summit, while tallying with national policies and priorities. The 2007-2011 Morocco-UNFPA action program touches on health, migration, planning and capacity development of associations. It also aims to develop the national capacities and accompany national plans and strategies.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/unfpa_commands_coope/view
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OPEC fund grants Morocco $8mln loan to finance dam construction.
Vienna, Feb 3, 2009 (MAP)

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) granted Morocco an $8mln loan to co-finance the building of a dam in the northern province of Chefchaouen. The projected dam, to cost around MAD 210 mln ($24.5mln), will have a 12 millions cubic meter storage capacity.
The dam will enable the economically and socially fast-growing city of Chefchaouen to meet its future needs in drinking water. It will also supply neighbouring areas with drinking and irrigation water.

The loan agreement was signed here Tuesday by Morocco's ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Omar Zniber, and OFID director- general, Suleiman J.Al-Herbish. The OFID director-general said the fund is planning to finance other projects in the North African country to accompany its development. Since 2003, OFID granted Morocco 7 loans to finance projects in matters of drinking water supply, sanitation, education, dam building and rural development.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/opec_fund_grants_mor/view
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Italy donates Morocco $ 2 mln to support basic health services.
Rabat, Feb. 5, 2009 (MAP)

Italy donated Morocco a MAD 19.5 mln ($ 2.2mln) to finance a project meant to support basic health care in Settat province (157 km south of Rabat) under a Memorandum of Understanding signed, here Thursday. The project is intended to enable the upgrading and equipment of 23 basic health institutions and the training of 255 professionals in rural and urban health centers. It also provides for supporting health delegations in the region of Chaouia-Ouardigha (central Morocco).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/italy_donates_morocc_1/view
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Moroccan children's book on 'honor list' of Anna Lindh Foundation .
Cairo, Feb. 3, 2009 (MAP)

The Moroccan children's book "Ahki li ez-zellige" (tell me zellige) by Nadia Benmoussa has been included in the Anna Lindh top ten children's books. The book immerses the reader in the art and history of Zellige (traditional tiles) through the journey of the hero, Ali, and his master. "Tell me Zellige" takes young readers on a marvellous travel to Fez, Marrakech and back to Andalusia, to discover the splendour of this Moroccan architectural art.

Written initially in French, the book was recently translated into Arabic by Mohamed Belmlih, and published by Casablanca’s Yanboe Livres Publishing House. The books on the Anna Lindh list, including works from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as Arabic versions of two Swedish books, will get awards on the occasion of the ongoing Cairo International Book Fair.

The books selected by the foundation are highly educational, and explore lofty themes such as friendship, integrity, respect and competitiveness. Some books were chosen for giving incentives to children and for fostering their creativeness and self-confidence, the Alexandria-based Foundation announced. The books were selected during the “Hundred and one books” fair, held part of the “children’s literature” programme initiated by the Anna Lindh foundation. Over one hundred Arabic books for children by Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Palestininian and Syrian writers were displayed during the event.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/moroccan_children_s/view
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Caftan 2009 slated for May 2.
Casablanca, Feb. 6, 2009 (MAP)

The 13th annual "Caftan 2009", an event gathering Moroccan and Arab haute couture designers, will take place May 2, in the city of Marrakech under the theme "Africa, East, West." Organized by French-speaking magazine "Femmes du Maroc", this event is an annual rendezvous for experienced designers to reinvent the glamour of Caftan (Moroccan traditional outfit), and for young talents to showcase their latest creations.

Before Marrakech Grand show, a jury will choose this years' winners during a fashion show in the month of April. The color pink will mark this year's edition, giving it thus a feminine touch, organizers said in a press conference in Casablanca. This glamorous fashion event, which attracts more people every year, has evolved since it was first launched in 1996 all the while preserving its original raison d’être. French choreographer and professor at "star Academy-France", Kamel Ouali, will be in charge of the artistic direction of the Caftan 2009 show. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/caftan_2009_slated_f/view
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Third 'Sea and Desert' festival in southern Morocco late February.
Casablanca, Feb. 5, 2009 (MAP)

The 3rd "Sea and Desert" festival will be held from February 27 to March 1st in the southern city of Dakhla, under the theme "Man and Space: Development stakes," organizers said here Wednesday. The festival, organized by the "Sea and Desert" festival association and local partners, aims to showcase the assets the region boasts and promote the Hassani cultural legacy, they said at a press conference.

The program features musical and sports workshops for children, excursions as well as surf, windsurf, kit surf events. The festival also features exhibitions involving world champions from France, Australia, and Switzerland. A select group of international and national musicians will hit the stage in the festival, including Selmou (hassani music), Hoba-Hoba Spirit, Najat Atabou (Moroccan popular music), Faudel (Algeria), Yuri buenaventura (Colombia), Winston Macanuff (Jamaica), Jean François Sicart (France) and Troy Von Balthazar (Hawaii).

This year's edition will be dedicated to the social dimension and will sponsor an event devoted for women, where young Sahrawis will meet with world surfing champions mainly Marion Raïsi (France) and Anne-Marie Reichmann (Germany).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/3rd__sea_and_desert/view
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Morocco celebrates its writers at 2008 book prize.
Rabat, Feb. 5, 2009 (MAP)

Morocco's best quills have been awarded the 2008 book prize in various categories. Human and social sciences prize went equally to Mohamed Rabitat Eddine for his book "Marrakech au temps du règne Almohade" (Marrakech during the reign of Almohades) and Mohamed Belboul for his book "La structure du mot dans la langue arabe, représentations et principes" (word structure in Arabic, representations and principles).

In the category of literary studies, the prize was awarded to Ahmed Tribak for his book "Le discours soufi dans la littérature marocaine à l'époque du Sultan Moulay Ismaïl" (the Sufi discourse in Moroccan literature during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl). Mohamed Azeddine Tazi and Ahmed El Madini equally won the narration and storytelling prize for their books "Abniat al Faraghe" (buildings of vacuum) and "kharif wa qissason oukhra" (autumn and other stories) respectively.

The poetry prize was awarded to Latifa El Meskini for her collection "hanajiroha amiae" (blind throats), while Farid Zahi won the translation prize for the book "Assihr wa-dine" (magic and religion), an Arabic translation of the French book "Magie et religion dans l'Afrique du nord" by Edmond Doutté. The prize giving ceremony is scheduled on February 12 in Casablanca at the opening ceremony of the International Book Fair.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/morocco_celebrates_i/view
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Says forcing a victim to marry rapist is a crime: Morocco rape law oppresses women: Activists
RABAT (Hassan al-Ashraf)

Female rights associations in Morocco have called for the annulment of a law that acquits a rapist for raping a minor if he marries her, and argued it is like rewarding the rapist for the crime. Rape is a crime and its perpetrator has to be penalized by law, said Fouzia Assouli, head of the Moroccan Democratic League for Women's Rights. Marriage following rape is an equally serious crime, she added. "How can a girl be made to marry a man who raped her?" she told AlArabiya.net. "This is like rewarding him for his crime."

Oppressed by law and rape
Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code renders the woman a double victim since she is oppressed by the law and by her rapist, Assouli said.
The rapist usually offers to marry the girl to escape the blame then months later she ends up divorced and even more abused, activist Bushra Abdou said. "In the case of evading punishment through marriage, the girl loses her rights and the law does not make an example of the culprit to deter others," Abdou told AlArabiya.net

Islamic scholars similarly reject the law, saying making a rape victim marry her rapist is against Islamic laws and contrary to the punishment ordained by God. "Islamic law was made to protect the five most important things in man's life: religion, life, honor, money, and sanity," Sheikh Ibn Salim Bahsham, member the Moroccan Scholars League, told AlArabiya.net. "Even if reconciliation takes place between the rapist and the victim, there remains the right of the state to punish crimes that inflict damage on the community," he added.

Rather be 'divorced' than 'raped'
Zohour al-Zeraei, the national coordinator of listening and legal guidance centers, said the girl is usually forced to consent to the marriage because of society. "She knows the marriage will not last but she'd rather be called 'divorced' than 'raped,'" she told AlArabiya.net. Zeraei added that this law also encourages any man who wants to marry a minor who rejects him to rape her to make sure she marries him.

Mustafa Ramid, member of the Advisory Council on Human Rights agreed with the demands of women rights activist and said there is plan to revise the Moroccan penal code, but its details are not yet clear."Crimes related to honor cannot be forgiven," he told AlArabiya.net. "This is against Sharia [Islamic law]. (Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid.)
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/02/07/65922.html
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The Western Kingdom.
By Elena Fenrick, Special To North Shore News RABAT, Morocco

With a vibrant culture, rich in contrasts, Morocco claims a unique spot in both Africa and the Arab world. Ancient tradition merges daily with pop culture and modernity. This is a country where nomadic Saharan guides are Celine Dion fans and veiled women eat McArabia sandwiches at McDonald's. In the Anti-Atlas mountains, "Long Live King Mohamed VI" is spelled out in Arabic script formed by white rocks. Near the same mountains, on the outskirts of an oasis town, several disabled Moroccans drive high-tech motorized wheelchairs across a stony plateau.

I was fortunate enough to call this gorgeous land of contrasts "home" for three months as a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer. Headquartered in New York, CCS operates home bases in 12 countries around the world. After graduating from high school in 2007, I wanted to travel and experience living somewhere other than Lloydminster, Alta.

Morocco was at the top of my list of places to see, it being a unique fusion of Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern culture. I wanted to experience the Arab world for myself rather than stereotyping a society based on media portrayal. CCS Morocco's home base is located in Rabat, the country's political capital and current imperial city. Gorgeously situated on both the Atlantic Ocean and Bou Regreg River, remainders of the French Protectorate are still visibly ingrained in the architecture and style. Only a fortress-like wall separates the Ville Nouveau (new city) from the ancient Medina (old city).

Ranging in ages from eight to 82, nearly 50 volunteers went through the house during my 12-week stay. Each seemed to be on both a personal journey and a quest for a greater good in the world. Hearing their wealth of travel experiences made me want to see and do everything, all at once.

Day-to-day life in Morocco was an adventure. Traffic in Rabat is hectic, and the fast-moving city buses are often crammed wall-to-wall with passengers of all ages. Tickets are cheap at only four dirhams (roughly C0.56 cents), and foreigners who take the city bus usually leave with some memorable stories and observations.

On the weekends, volunteers have the option of travelling about the country. For me, this included trips to the Sahara desert dunes near M'Hamid and to Fez, the country's "spiritual capital." Buying a train ticket to Fez is an easy transaction; getting on the correct train is not quite as easy. Six of us spent a half-hour stranded in Kenitra, waiting for the train we should have taken. Fez was fantastic and fulfilled my childhood dream of being in Disney's Aladdin. The Medina, famous for its tanneries and one of the world's oldest universities, comprises thousands of medieval streets and alleyways.

Our guide led us to an Amazigh (Berber) carpet house, a women's co-operative that produced silk scarves, a herbal pharmacy and the famed tanneries. In my opinion, Morocco's greatest asset is its people. Family is a priority to them, and time isn't measured as rigidly as it is in Canada.

The genuine kindness of strangers was a recurring theme wherever we went. People wanted to help us. Yes, there were those who wanted to sell us something such as a henna tattoo or their guiding services. But, many were simply curious about why we were there and wished to show hospitality to foreigners.

The local shop owners in the souk (marketplace) and waiters at certain cafes began to exchange pleasant greetings with us. When I brought a few friends back to a specific jewelry shop, the owner recognized me and gave me a tiny, silver Hand of Fatima necklace as commission.

In a pilot project, some of the volunteers met regularly with a group of students from Mohamed V University. To help them with their English, we discussed a wide variety of topics and saw Morocco from their perspective.

Getting to know the students was a great opportunity for cultural understanding. Most hadn't personally known any North Americans before, and some thought that westerners wouldn't like them because they are Muslim. We explained that we were their friends and wanted to learn about their country and Islam. One girl explained to us the phenomenon of educated Moroccans going to live abroad. Instead, her intent is to use her education within Morocco to help strengthen the economy and create jobs.

Morocco deals with huge issues such as poverty, unemployment and high rural illiteracy rates. Organizations such as CCS or the Peace Corps can't solve these issues, but they can make a difference. Helping cultures to better understand and appreciate each other creates friendships that can lead to lasting, positive change in all areas of society.

Before going to Morocco, I hadn't travelled alone and was paranoid and suspicious of strangers. Turning on the TV or picking up a newspaper can give people a thousand reasons to be afraid of the world. Yes, there are valid reasons to be cautious, but it's so easy to forget about random kindness and compassion. Though I was the volunteer who was "helping others," the people of Morocco taught me much more than I taught them.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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Morocco works exotic magic.
Julius Pokomandy, Special To North Shore News. Wednesday, January 28, 2009

After about 10 days of arctic weather I started thinking about the cooking and flavours of warmer climates. Moroccan cuisine perfectly suited my culinary daydreaming. Morocco is a great source of culture, beauty, and wonderful, robustly flavourful cooking. Slightly larger than California, this arid Muslim kingdom nurtures about 32 million people. Since 1999 King Mohammed VI has ruled the land with a firm hand.

Morocco is located on the coast of North Africa, bordering the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara. Some of its cities are the ingredients of romance and intrigue. Who can forget Casablanca, Tangier and Fes. During the last world war Marrakech, Agadir and Rabat were the sites of bitter battles. Morocco is in the eye of the storm on this very day. War with Western Sahara still simmers on, and flares up occasionally.

Phoneician traders, who penetrated the western Mediterranean before the 12th century BC, set up depots for salt and ore along the coast and up the rivers of the territory what is now Morocco. By the fifth century BC, Carthage had extended its hegemony to much of North Africa. By the second century several large, loosely administered Berber kingdoms emerged.

Over the centuries, the influence of the Berbers, Muslims, and Christianity left their mark on the culture, architecture and cuisine of Morocco. There are two items that stand out with their importance. One is the spice saffron. The stigma of this elegant flower is used extensively in soups, stews and marinades. The second is the beautiful tagine, the clay conical cookware that is now used around the world and can be bought here in B.C.

This week we offer four Moroccan recipes for your files. Try them and enjoy the flavours of North Africa.
CHICKEN TAGINE
3 medium carrots
2 lbs. of chicken pieces
1 large peeled potato cut in * inch rounds
1 large green bell pepper cut in chunks
1 medium red onion cut in rounds
2 medium peeled tomatoes cut in thick slices
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tsp ground ginger
* tsp ground pepper
2 tsp paprika
A few strands of crushed saffron
Salt to taste
3/4 cup of pitted green olives
6-8 tbsp good olive oil
º cup water
Purchase your saffron at better delicatessens or at specialty stores. Tagines are also available in cook shops they are a beautiful addition to your kitchen lineup.

Splash four tbsp olive oil on the bottom of the tagine. Layer your ingredients evenly starting with the carrots then going in the order given in the recipe. The chicken pieces should be on top of the carrots not touching the bottom of the tagine. When you get to the spices and the salt, sprinkle evenly on the top of the vegetables. Spread the olives on the top and drizzle olive oil all over. Add the water at this time and cover the tagine. Cook on low heat until the vegetables and chicken are cooked, about 1 hour. Make sure you have just enough liquid to keep the contents cooking and moist. Once it is cooked remove from heat and drizzle some more olive oil on top. Let it rest for 15 minutes (covered) and serve hot. Approximate recipe cost: $8 (excluding the tagine).

VEGETABLE SOUP CHORBA FASSIA
* pound stewing beef small diced (originally veal)
1º cups peeled chopped carrots
1º cups chopped peeled turnips
1º cups chopped peeled potatoes
1º cups chopped celery
3 medium size tomatoes with the skin removed
1 cup chopped onion
* cup raw vermicelli noodles
1 tbsp olive oil
* tsp freshly ground pepper
Salt to taste
Pinch of saffron
Peel and cut all the vegetables and line up all the ingredients. Select a large heavy soup pot, add all (except the vermicelli) ingredients and cover with two liters of water. Simmer for 60 minutes. 10 minutes before service add the noodles. Check for flavour and serve hot.

MOROCCAN MARINADE CHERMOULA
This recipe provides a classic North African marinade for fish. I have used it for chicken breasts that were broiled or grilled.

1 tbsp freshly chopped coriander
1 medium garlic clove minced
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Makes enough marinade for four servings. The recipe can be doubled or tripled as needed.

FISH STEAKS WITH CUMIN AND GARLIC
4 steaks of halibut or other firm lean fish
Moroccan marinade
1 tsp paprika
* tsp ground cumin
º cup water
1 tsp tomato paste
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves minced
Salt to taste
Mix together the Moroccan marinade ingredients. Place the fish pieces on a tray or platter. Add the marinade and rub it over both sides of the fish. Cover and marinate for one-three hours turning the steaks occasionally. Mix paprika and cumin in a small dish. In a cup, stir a little water into tomato paste until smooth. Add lemon juice. Heat oil in a large skillet add the garlic, and cumin mixture. Sauté for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add tomato paste. Return to heat and bring to simmer, stirring. Add the fish steaks with their marinade to sauce in the skillet. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cover and cook over low heat, basting the fish occasionally, about eight minutes until the fish can be flaked with a fork. With a slotted spoon, transfer fish to a platter; keep warm. Simmer the sauce, stirring constantly until it reduces to º cup. Taste the sauce and season if desired, spoon it over the fish steaks and serve at once.
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Send your questions on any culinary topic to A Chef in Your Kitchen, PO Box 18627, Delta, B.C., V4K 4V7. Or send an e-mail to pokochef@telus.net.
http://www2.canada.com/northshorenews/news/taste/story.html?id=c7610363-f58f-451c-8dfc-0bd77f1d3112&p=1
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Cooking class offers taste of Morocco.
By G. MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, Special to the Star Tribune / January 31, 2009

Donkey carts clattered across cobblestone streets; butchers wielding cleavers hacked away at sides of lamb, beef and camel; women haggled in Arabic, French or Tamazight, a local Berber language. We were in Fez's meat, produce and spice market, maneuvering through the chaos with the guidance of Lahcen Beqqi, a master chef and expert on Moroccan cooking.

My wife, Ruth, and I had signed up for a one-day cooking class taught by Beqqi to learn more about Morocco and its cuisine. Beqqi, a 32-year-old baby-faced Berber from a small mountain village, made a fitting teacher. He had moved to Fez, the country's food capital, in 2002 and had cooked at some of the city's finest restaurants until he opened a school, Fes Cooking, in 2006. His classes offer not only cooking instruction (and eating, of course), but also an introduction to Moroccan shopping and mealtime traditions.

We, along with the chef and two other students, had begun our day at the market of this 1,200-year-old imperial city. Because our menu would be dictated by what was available ("eat seasonal, buy local" has long been a way of life here), we wandered the narrow walkways surveying the possibilities. The sweet scent of cinnamon and rose water filled the air; stalls overflowed with tomatoes, onions, celery, garlic. "It was a good year for farmers with lots of rain, so there are no shortages," Beqqi said.

He pointed out foods that in American kitchens would be considered specialty items, but are essential to traditional Moroccan cooking: dates, figs, chickpeas, mint. He described products that drew our blank and uncomprehending stares: wild artichokes, argan oil, cardons, camel fat. We made our way back through the market, buying what we needed, and headed to the classroom at Riad Tafilalet, a hotel and restaurant.

Although thoroughly modern, the kitchen contained no electric mixers, blenders, or food processors. According to Beqqi, Moroccan cooks enjoy "being close to their food," so all chopping is by hand, all mashing by mortar and pestle. The students donned starched white chef tunics, looking like contestants on "The Next Food Network Star," and dove into assigned tasks. Baqqi watched carefully and explained proper techniques: "Don't add spices until the liquid is hot"; "Grate the tomatoes, don't chop them."

Three hours later, our six-course lunch feast was prepared. In the riad's sunlit courtyard, we sat around low tables dining on harira, a tomato, lentil and chickpea soup traditionally used to break the daily fast of Ramadan; small triangles of phyllo pastry called briouates, filled with goat cheese and olives; zaalouk salad prepared with pureed eggplant, tomato and zucchini; artichoke hearts with preserved lemons and orange water; lamb, prune and date tagine, and, for dessert, date and almond rolls along with the ever-present sweet mint tea.

As we relished the meal during two glorious hours, Beqqi related stories of the multiethnic influences that have produced this distinctive cuisine: the Berbers of southern Morocco who brought tagines and couscous; seventh-century Arab invaders who introduced grilled meats and a love of dried fruits and nuts; Moors who contributed their taste for olives, oranges and lemons, and Sephardic Jews of North Africa who popularized the pickling and preserving of fruits and meats, plus the gastronomic contributions of Ottoman and French colonists.

I lay back on the sofa and sipped my last glass of tea, feeling like a pampered pasha. At 4 p.m., after a busy but gratifying day, Beqqi called a taxi to take us back to our hotel, a trip whose cost was, thankfully, based on distance, not weight.
G. Michael Schneider, a professor of mathematics and computer science at Macalester College, divides his time between St. Paul and Manhattan
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/38625422.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUqyE5D7UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
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Morocco's equality laws shape a new generation.
John Thorne, Foreign Correspondent . February 02. 2009 RABAT //

Girls have no business going to school, said Saida Mounjari’s father, and yanked her out of classes. Saida stayed at home, doing little, until a husband was selected for her fourteen years ago. Today, aged 45, she is finally learning to read – and learning her rights. Five years ago on Thursday, prospect brightened for women in Morocco as the country amended its family laws to grant them legal equality with men in key areas. The reform won international praise, helped burnish King Mohammed VI’s reputation as a moderniser and signalled for many a new egalitarianism in Morocco.

But today, women’s groups and the government are still working to convince a conservative society to change with the times. “The new law has done a lot towards gender equality, but it’s not a magic wand,” said Nouzha Skalli, the minister of social development, family and solidarity. “For centuries, women have been considered as fit only for marriage and submission to their husbands – a law can’t transform that overnight.”

Historically, Morocco followed Islamic customs regarding the family, which allowed fathers to give their daughters’ hand in marriage, and granted husbands a double share of inheritance while allowing them to take up to four wives simultaneously and divorce them at will. The first family law, passed after Morocco gained independence from its coloniser France in 1956, did little beyond codifying existing practices.

Significant change did not come until 2004, when lawmakers made 18 the marriageable age of women, gave judges control of divorce and polygamy, and granted women the right of final consent to marriage. The reform has angered some Moroccans, who consider it a breach of Islamic law, but reflects women’s growing independence, said Malika Benradi, a law professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, the capital, who specialises in women’s issues.

The face of Moroccan society began changing under French rule and continued during the four-decade reign of King Hassan II, who steered the country firmly towards the West. As modern cities expanded, women emerged from their flats, flung off their traditional headscarves and entered the workplace in growing numbers. But beneath the surface, male dominance has remained entrenched, said Rhizlane Benachir, the president of the Association Jousour – “bridges” in Arabic – a Rabat-based charity that seeks to combat the widespread illiteracy that keeps some women trapped in their homes and ignorant of their rights.

“Women who can’t read and write are dependent on a father or husband,” Mrs Benachir said. “In that sense, they remain like children all their lives.” The Association Jousour’s offices are hidden behind a blue wooden door in Rabat’s old city. Behind many similar doors in the surrounding buildings live women confined by their illiteracy to a dim world of kitchen, market street and back-alley. “Most of the women here still don’t know their rights,” said Saida Mounjari, who lives near the Association Jousour’s offices and is learning to read there. “And many have unnecessary problems because of it.”

In addition to teaching women to read and write, the Association Jousour takes them on group visits to such places as the bank, post office, local municipality and parliament building to learn how modern society functions. “We’re teaching them to become citizens,” Mrs Benachir said.
Meanwhile, public schools are teaching children about women’s rights, and imams talk about the issue in Morocco’s state-controlled mosques, said Mrs Skalli, the social development minister. However, Moroccans’ lifestyles are changing faster than the values of their society, putting strain on marriages, said Mrs Benradi, of Mohammed V University.

“Today, the majority of women want financial independence, and many couples need two incomes to get by,” she said. “But the men have grown up in an environment in which they have all the power.” Too often, she said, working women return home in the evening to a list of household chores and a husband expecting dinner.

That scenario may change as a new generation comes of age. On a cafe terrace in Rabat, a marketing student called Mehdi Boubbou is talking with three friends and glancing periodically at the passing girls. At 24, he is beginning to think about marriage. “I want to share moments of joy and sadness with my wife, as well as the finances and raising the children,” he said. “And I think it’s great that women are working more – they usually work better than men.”

Mr Boubbou said few of his male friends shared his views, but predicted that Moroccan men would eventually come to accept equality of the sexes.“It may take 20 or 30 years, though.” For some women, that is not fast enough. “We can’t wait for mentalities to change,” Mrs Benradi said. “The new laws should change the mentality.”
jthorne@thenational.ae
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090202/FOREIGN/289435251/1040
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